Criminal Background Check: Best Practices for Small Businesses and Individual’s Protection- Part 1
Many small business owners as well as individuals often have plans for retirement, and other things but rarely consider the need for safety plan until the unexpected happens. The unsettling truth about crime in our environment makes it imperative for all to have a safety plan in place. This is where conducting a criminal background check plays an important when transacting businesses with company or with individuals.
Indeed, most business owners have lot of worries. Besides all the normal concerns like competition, pricing, location, customer service etc., and now security has become increasingly important. Small business are now faced the threat of theft, fraud, embezzlement, scams etc., the list seems almost endless.
The Recent murder of Julissa Brisman should heighten the need for businesses and individuals to take criminal background check, background check as best practice for protecting their business and life. News emerging from this incident revealed that Julissa Brisman 26 who advertised her massage service on craigslist was found dead on April 14, 2009 allegedly murder by her client Philip Markoff, a Boston University medical student at the Marriott Copley. This kind of incident could have been avoided if Julissa Brisman had run a quick check to see if Philip Markoff had any criminal history. In fact, emerging news revealed that Philip Markoff had a criminal history that involve similar incident- where he attacked another masseuses- for- hire who advertised her service in craigslist classified service.
Criminal investigation research shows that criminals will often repeat their crimes. And these crimes do leave a trail on them. Furthermore, finding also reveals those criminals do show up in our life before they attack us. In order words, there will always be a place of contact- through business deals, shopping, work, hired help or even online connection as seen in the example above.
In this regard, small business owners, independent contractors as well as home business owners are in greater risk bracket of being victims of crime. True, small business owners and individuals have some concerns that range from- how do I get access to this kind of information, the cost of such information, and time. Others are afraid of being scammed not know where to look or which service provider to choose. However genuine these concerns are – does not negate the important of conducting a criminal background check because the consequences are better imagined than experienced.
Here are things to do when seeking the protection of your business or life…
Run Criminal Background Checks
Whenever you deal with someone you do not know in business or personally, run a quick background check to see if such a person or company has any history of criminal activity. Things you should find out include:
Background check
Criminal Report
Income Report
Prison record
Sex offender status
And lots more…
Run Employment Background Check
As a small business owner, pre-screening each person you consider hiring. No matter how professional or how harmless they appear, even if the person is your relation. Things you should find out include:
Background check
Criminal record,
Court records,
Work licenses
And lots more….
Unfortunately, law enforcement can’t help until after the crime had been committed. The cold hard truth about crime is: it’s up to you to do whatever you can to protect your business and look out for your family.
For the concluding part of this article see part 11
